Pat Metheny

Name: Patrick Bruce Metheny
Born: 12th August, 1954 (Lee's Summit, Missouri, USA)

Profile: He is an American jazz guitarist and composer. One of the most successful and critically acclaimed, he is the leader of the "Pat Metheny Group" and is also involved in duets, solo works and other side projects. His style incorporates elements of progressive and contemporary jazz, post-bop, latin jazz and jazz fusion.

History: He started on guitar when he was 13. He developed quickly, taught at both the University of Miami and Berklee College of Music with Jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton. He first made his name as a teenage prodigy under the wing of Burton.

In 1974, he made his recording debut for pianist Paul Bley's, along with bassist Jaco Pastorius. A year later, Metheny entered the wider jazz scene when he joined "Gary Burton's band", where he played alongside guitarist Mick Goodrick. Metheny's musical momentum carried him rapidly to the point that he had soon written enough material to record his debut album 'Bright Size Life' with Pastorius.

In 1977, Metheny's album 'Watercolors', was the first to feature pianist Lyle Mays (Metheny's most frequent collaborator). Metheny's next album formalized his partnership with Mays and began the "Pat Metheny Group".

Metheny has also joined projects such as "Song X", "Parallel Realities", "Jazz Baltica" and "EST". The "Pat Metheny Group" has released albums such as 'Offramp' in 1982, 'Travels' in 1983, 'First Circle' in 1984 and 'The Falcon and the Snowman' in 1985. Metheny then again delved into adventurous solo and band projects, the group integrated new instrumentation and technologies into its work, notably Mays' unique playing technique accomplished by adding midi-controlled synth sounds at command during acoustic solos via a pedal on the piano.

This period became a peak of commercial popularity of the band, additional Latin musicians appear as guests, notably Brazilian percussion player Armando Marçal. Metheny's latest side projects teams him with Brad Mehldau and his Trio. In 2006, Metheny appeared as a sideman on "Brecker's" last album, 'Pilgrimage'. Pat Metheny has been touring for more than 30 years, playing between 120-240 concerts a year.

Influences: Wes Montgomery, Milton Nascimento, Toninho Horta, James Taylor, Jim Hall, Joe Diorio, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bruce Hornsby, Joni Mitchell, Buckethead, Eddie Van Halen, Leo Kottke, Mick Goodrick, Blue Note and The Beatles

Axology: Gibson guitar model ES-175, 42-string Pikasso guitar, Acoustic Sitar guitar, Ibanez PM20 Signature Model and Roland GR-300 guitar synthesizer

Signature song(s): Minuano and Last Train Home - Pat Metheny Group (1987)

Link(s):

http://www.patmetheny.com (Official website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApI-zA6suXE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_SQqXXZE2w&feature=PlayList&p=B9EAEF856BE0A67B&playnext_from=PL&index=1&playnext=2